Dimming apparatus for headlights of automobiles



3 Sheets-Sheet l A it 0 rue .1 5

May 22. 1928.

w. E. M LAUGHLIN DIMMING APPnRATUS FOR HEADLIGHTS 0F AUTOMOBILES Original Filed Aug. 6, 1925 Fig 1 w M U r t n e ME W 2 I n 0 1 2M! 4 L 6 I Z 2 w W I: 7 (ll ll 2 w May 22, 1928.

w. E. MCLAUGHLIN DIMMING APPARATUS FOR HEADLIGHTS OF AUTOMOBILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 6, 1925 ATTORNEYS May 22. 1928. 1,670,517

w. E. MCLAUGHLIN DIMMING APPARATUS FOR HEADLIGHTS OF AUTOMOBILES Original Filed Aug. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fxlg. 1'0. )"4

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1 7 J 6 1 I PM 0 ii Q Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED sTATEs- PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. MGLAUGHLIN, OF MIDDLETOWN, OI-IIO ASSIGNOR TO THE BARKELEW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MIDDLETOWN, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO.

DIMMING APPARATUS FOR HEADLIGI-ITS OFAUTOMOBILES.

Original application filed August 6, 1925, Serial No. 48,617. Divided and this application filed March 26, 1926. Serial No. 97,721.

My invention relates to dimming apparatus for headlights of automobiles, and is a division of my application filed August 6, 1925, Serial No. 48,617.

It is an object of my invent-ion to provide a dimming and brightening apparatus for an automobile which may be applied to the existing electrical system on an automobile so thatthe dimming 0r brightening operationmay be effected by the foot of the operator; Y

It is my particular object to arrange the foot-operating mechanism adjacent the left foot of the operator which is only used for operating the clutch pedal and which is therefore relatively idle.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a readily attachable switch mechanism which will beadiustable to difi'erent types of cars having different thicknesses of flood boards.

It is another object of my invention to provide a foot operating switch so arranged that it may control the dimming operations in conjunction with the ordinary switch cus- I tomarily mounted on the dashboard of a vehicle for controlling the lighting system of the vehicle.

It is an additional object to provide a small switch structure which can be easily located on the automobile in the restricted space provided, which is closed to prevent the contacts being rendered useless through the accumulation of dirt, and which can be installed so that it is out of sight save for the operating plunger.

It is an additional object to provide a switch in which thereis no cutting oil of current and no arcing. It is also an object to arrange the switch so that by removing the pedal button the floor board can be removed. 7

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the switch 1nstalled in the floor board of a vehicle, which floor board is shown in section. The cover of the switch is broken away to disclose its interior structure; V

Figure 2 is a similar view from the other side;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the arrangement of the insulating supporting plate with its positioning grooves for the contact fingers;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring and switch system in which the parts are so arranged that the head lamps are normally bright and are only dimmed when the switch plunger is depressed;

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the parts in position in which the headlights are normally dim and are only bright upon the depressing of the switch plunger in the switch of my invent-ion;

Figure 7 is a section through the supporting material illustrating the binding post connection;

Figure 8 is, an elevation with the cover lifted and partially broken away, of a modified form of the cover arrangement of the switch and modified form shaft;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

,Figure 10 is another modification of the switch; and

I Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 9.

Referring to the details of these drawings. 1 is a floor board of a vehicle in which the switch is located and to which it is attached at a point preferably near the clutch pedal or to the left hand side of the steer- .ing wheel column. The switch is completely located beneath this floor board with the exception. of its supporting screws 2 and the operating plunger 3 which is provided with ahead 4. This plunger is provided with a series of transverse holes 5 so that the height of the plunger may be adiusted to suit the preference of the user and the thickness of the fioor board 1. A transverse cotter pin 5 is located in any one of these holes beneath the top plate 6 of thecasing. The cotter pin limits the movement of the contact disk 7 which is a copper washer or ring held between the insulating plates 8 anid 9.

of the pedal v The lowermost plate 9 engages with the helithe contact member at the same time sothat there is no arc and no dark spot in the hghtcontact fingers 13 and 1%. while of the same height as the finger 14 has a shorter contact area 13 than the longer contact area let of the finger 14. The concal spring 10 surrounding the plunger shaft 3. The other end of this spring rests on the hollow plate 11. In the groove 12 there are located two spaced, upwardly extending The finger 13,

tact area 1t is always in contact with the contact ring 7 while the contact area- 13 is only in contact when the plunger is in its uppermost. position.

The areas 13 and 19 are in contactwith ingsystem, I

The bottoinplates 15 of-these fingers rest in the groove 12 and as they are rectangular or square and fit neatly within the groove the fingerscannot turn. They are held in position by the bolts 16a Thissgroove 12 is disposed across the insulating plate ll from one corner of the plate to the other. At right anglesvto this groove is a second, groove 17 running from the centeryof the first groove 12 to a third plate 6.

tothese binding posts.

bolt 1601' .20 passes through aninsula'ting corner. In it is, located the base plate 18 of the contact! finger19 which is a shorter contact plateor contactfinger than the plates 13 and 14:. Its contactarea 195's engaged by the -ring 7 at-a time when that ringlis i'n contact finger 14:. The plate 18 is held in positionby. the bolt 20. The supporting engagement with the contact area 14 ofthe insulating plate 11 is carriedin a cup-shaped bolts project. through, the plate 11 and through the bottonikof the casing 21 carry- 1ng .on their lower ends an insulating washer 2,6, alock washer 27 and a binding post nut 28 so that. wires can be suitably connected The binding post or collar 29' as shown in Figure 7 V Turning to the wiring d agrams,the circuit is as follo s as shown in Figure 5, when the lights are normally "bright. 30 designates theusual dashboard switch which carries'a terminal'31 upon which is pivoted a switch lever 32" which alternately engages with the terminals 33 and 34 between which there is connected a resistance 35 for dimming the lights. The terminal 31 is connected by the wire 36 to a battery 37 which is grounded at 37*. The terminal 34 is connected by a wire 38 to the contact finger 19.

The circuit between the finger 19 and the. finger 13 is closed by the switch member 7 when the switchmember is depressed. The bindingpost: 1 1 is connected bythe wire 39 to the lamp 40, the other side of; the lamp being grounded at 41. The wire 22 connects the binding post 13to-the binding post 33.

It will be observed that it the foot or plunger switch 'isup and the switch lever 32 is in the position shown in Figure 5, the lights will be normally bright, but dimmed upon the depression of" the switch lever. This is due to the fact that the source of current'37 is connectedthrough 36', '31, 32,

33, 42, 13, 7, 14:, 39 to the lamp 40 when the switch is up, but when the switch is down, then the current passes from 3'7, 36, 31, 32, through resistance 35,34, 33, 19, 7, 1 1, 39to the lamp 40.

7 As will be seen in Figure 6, if the switch lever 32 connects the terminals 31 and 34 then the lights will be normally dim because the current passes through the line 36, 31,

32; 34,35, 33, 42, 13, 7-, 14, 39 to the-lamp 40. The lamps will become bright when the 'switch"member 7 is moved to bridge the binding posts or-terniinals- 14 and 19- at which time the circuit will oe-36', 31,32, 34, 38,19, 7; 14', 39 to the .lamplO.

served'that the plunger or'toot button shaft 3 is so arranged that at its upper enditis internally threaded at 43. This internal threading'is adapted to receive aishortadditional section of the shaft, of which sections there maybe any number, this-section being desm ated 4 k. It carries at oneend' aprojectingthreaded iinen'iber 45 which is threaded into the threaded aperture At its other end it carries an internally threaded aperture 4-6 for receiving the threaded member of another section or the screw 1 ofthe button 4:. In tll'lSEfOl'filI have shown a detachable U-shaped cover i8-w-hich may be lifted; as'shown, to exposethe switching mechanism, but which, wlienlowered, .is-held in its lowered position by the floor board engaging with the topfof the cover. U-shaped support 49 supports the switching mechanism and forms :the'enclo'sure for the side walls o'litlie resulting casing or-cover formed hythe cover 43am] support 49.

In Figure 9 it will be noted that the slots extend transversely completely across the supporting insulatingplate 11'.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11, it will be noted that the parts are similar and the operation is similar, as the parts operate in the other views, but the contact fingers-are supported on the side walls 50. It is also possible by this arrangement to have a With reference to Figure'S' it will beobgreater number of contact fingers if desired. This form eliminates the insulating supportin plate 11.

t will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a switch, means to support the switch beneath a support board, a reciprocating plunger in said switch passing through the supporting board, a plurality of contact fingers arranged within the support on an insulating plate, 'an insulating plate, said plunger adapted to reciprocate between said fingers and a contact member carried between said insulating plate and supporting board by said plunger, insulated therefrom, adapted to engage two of said fingers alternately and to be in constant engagement with one of said fingers, and binding posts connected to said fingers.

2. In a switch, means to support the switch beneath a support board, areciprocating plunger in said switch passing through the supporting board, a plurality of contact ngers arranged within the support on an insulating plate, an insulating plate, said plunger adapted to reciprocate between said fingers and a contact member carried between said insulating plate and supporting board by said plunger insulated therefrom adapted to engage two of said fingers alternately and to be in constant engagement with one of said fingers, binding posts connected to said fingers, and means in said insulating plate for positioning said fingers.

3. In a. switch, means to support the switch beneath a support board, a reciprocating plunger in said switch passing through the supporting board, a plurality of contact fingers arranged within the support on an insulating plate, an insulating plate, said plunger adapted to reciprocate between said fingers and a contact member carried by said plunger, insulated therefrom, adapted to engage two of said fingers alternately and to be in constant engagement with one of said fingers, binding posts connected to said fingers, means in said insulating plate for positioning said fingers, and means cooperating with the switch support for adjusting the position of said plunger with respect to said contact member.

4. In a switch, a support, an insulated plate mounted in the base thereof, a plurality of upstanding contact fingers positioned in said insulating plate, binding posts passing from said fingers through said plate and the bottom of the support, means to insulate said binding posts from said support, a reciprocating plunger arranged between said fingers passing through the bottom oi the in sulating plate and support and extending above the fingers through a supporting board which suspends the support, a contact ring carried by said plunger adapted to engage the first and second fingers in its uppermost position and to engage the first and third fingers in its lowermost position, said menr her being insulated from the plunger, and yielding means associated with the plunger tending to return it to its uppermost position.

5. In a switch, a support, an insulated plate mounted in the base thereof, a plurality of upstanding contact fingers positioned in said insulating plate, binding posts passing from said fingers through said plate and the bottom of the support, means to insulate said binding posts from said support, a reciprocating plunger arranged between said fingers passing through the bottom of the insulating plate and support and extending above the fingers through a supporting board which suspends the support, a contact ring carried by said plunger adapted to engage the first and second fingers in its uppermost position and to engage the first and third fingers in the lowermost posit-ion, said memher being insulated from the plunger, and yielding means associated with the plunger tending to return it to its uppermost position, the first finger having a relatively broad contact face, the second finger being of the same height as the first but with a relatively narrow contact face, and the third finger being shorter than the other two fingers with a relatively narrow contact face.

6. In a switch, a cup-shaped support, a cover therefor, binding posts projecting through the bottom of said support, an insulating means insulating said binding posts from the support and supporting a plurality of contact fingers, a plurality of contact fingers positioned in said insulating means, a plunger reciprocating between said fingers through said insulating means and the bottom 01"" said support, yielding means to resist the movement of the plunger, the upper end of which projects beyond the support and through a supporting board, a rifig carried by said plunger, means to insulate said ring from the plunger, said ring being adapted to constantly engage one finger and to alternately engage the other fingers, and means for limiting the movement of the contact member carried by said plunger.

In a switching mechanism, a support contact members, a plunger. a contact memher on said plunger, said plunger ha ving de tachable sections and a detachable button for adjusting the length of the plunger and means carried by said plunger and cooperating with said support to limit the movement of said plunger.

8. In a switching mechanism having a. U-shaped supporting base carrying contact fingers, a top therefor, said top and said supporting base ziylgipfied t9 guide'a plunger, a ni eansto secure said snppoffo to a supporting board, and a U-shaped cover adapted to I slide over said top and support to close the sides of'said su pport said U-shaped cover being held in position by said supporting board when said support is secured to said supporting board, Whreby the entire switching' mechanism may be lwered for inspction and adjustment of the switching p'n rts.

In testimbny whereof, I am my signature.

WILLIAM E. CLAUGHLIR 

